SACRAMENTO - Last night as they chartered home, the Celtics weren't all that unhappy with the long flight. The further away they could get from the Western Conference the better.

After being crowned by the Kings, 109-94, and falling to 1-3 on the trip, the Celtics could find joy in geography. It's not that they mind playing teams from out here, it's just that they'd rather do it in their own house (5-0 against the West at the Fleet).

And while their wings may have been clipped a bit on the four-games-in-five-nights journey, they are still seven games over .500 as 2002 knocks.

The Celtics are not, however, as good as the 23-9 Kings. Last night, they were barely playing the same game. The Kings made 10 jumpers while shooting 60 percent in the first quarter and never looked back.